deercountry | The House Always Wins

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The House Always Wins

MARCH 2023 EVENT

Due to the UNIQUE NATURE of the Moss King, previous March events are NOT available during this month's event. Please keep that in mind.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Fanged, smiling carnivorous plant from little shop of horrors ]
[Image Two: House overgrown by roots.]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Person covered in glistening film that seems to be suffocating.]
[Image Two: Woman's face splattered in blood. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Poker chip with an anime girl's face on it. ]
[Image Two: Dogs Gambling Painting, but it's famous horror monster villains instead of dogs. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

WHEN: March 8-31
WHERE: The City of Trench and surrounding regions
CONTENT WARNINGS: Plant-Based Peril, Isolation, Entrapment, Carnivorous Plants, possible but unlikely death.

The plentiful and bountiful harvest of plants that started to blossom towards the beginning of the month has continued, and if anything? It's getting more and more troublesome. The old saying goes that too much of a good thing is too much, and this is definitely the proof of that pudding. Plants are literally growing everywhere. Trenchies can be seen cutting branches out of impossible locations, and vegetation is beginning to grow inside of established businesses and homes. There is an ever increasing market for vileblood based defoliation options that are being offered by entrepreneurial Trenchies, but the fact that more than a few of those selling the stuff have gone missing under strange circumstances calls into question their efficacy.

For Sleepers, this means that the possibility of encountering enlarged and potentially dangerous plants such as those seen in the earliest parts of the months grows ever more real. A human-sized venus flytrap might very well try to snatch one up, with all of the peril that entails. However, while it is possible for any exotic plant to carry with it potentially lethal threat, most of these are able to be dealt with by even the untrained with a machete. The real problem is the root systems and the plants that ones that talk. The former are the most likely to be encountered. Root systems grow over entire buildings during the mid to late month, choking over light sources and blocking windows to dim houses. They clench their grip over doors, making getting out of one's house an act of willpower and muscle that may have to be repeaated over and over again. Worst of all is the fact that many of these root systems almost seem to be intentionally creating barriers around the Lantern Network! The little moaners are safe, but their sphere of protection becomes a dome of wood, shielding and keeping them away from those naughty sleepers trying to hack their way to a teleport.

The talking ones, though, are downright disturbing. They're not very large, at first they do indeed seem to whisper and beg to be fed. Naturally, only blood will do, and the longer that they're fed the larger and more dangerous that they can become. But, so long as one doesn't feed them, they're harmless, right? Wrong. True, they can bite and it's easy enough to avoid them. However, it's what they start to say when they're denied their food that becomes disturbing. “There is a consequence of your actions, you know.” “Do not think that you are immune.” “Saving the Moss Brat seems wise now, but have a long memory.” Things like that. The voices they take on are eerie, unnatural and do not match the plants' normal begging voices. They never clear up who is speaking or what they're speaking about, but surely it's not a big issue, right?

By the end of the month, the plants wither away and break off of the various homes and businesses, leaving no visible damage behind, as if whatever caused them has faded entirely.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

THE LEECH

WHEN: Second Half of March
WHERE: Anywhere in Trench, but not the Outpost.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Magically Cursed Ailment, Severe weakness, Anemia

You didn't think it would be that easy, did you? From the moment that the first talking plants appeared in Trench, there has been another ominous presence. Unbeknownst to the people of Trench, but the Moss King is recovering from Riteior's attack and, while they are safe and slowly getting back to their normal self, this has allowed for Riteior to offer a little payback in an effort to cause trouble to those seeking to stop his attacks on the Pthumerians of Trench. In the night, while characters are sleeping, the plants strike. They wake to find a thin film over them, but otherwise it appears harmless. The next full day, there's nothing wrong and they feel hail and hearty. In fact, those pesky little talking plants are gone from their house. Of course, the next day the horror begins to settle in.

Within 48 hours, Sleepers will find themselves weak and lethargic in the extreme. The condition is not fatal, but it is problematic and irritating. They will find that no amount of food, water and rest quite gets rid of the malaise that they are experiencing, a strange drowsiness and lack of energy plaguing their every moment. The longer it persists, the more dangerous it becomes. However, there appears to be no obvious cause, at least until they visit someone capable of treating their condition, be they a Blood Minister or trained physician. Victims of this curse appear to be suffering from a severe, but not life-threatening anemia. There is no obvious cause, but the Ministers are certain that it is not natural and is likely a result of a curse of some kind. They can offer stimulants and high energy food, which will help the person experiencing the condition, but the real danger comes if they try to use their blood for a blood ritual of any kind. The insidious reason becomes obvious. Someone is attempting to stop them from safely having enough blood to perform the rituals to seal them away!

Victims are “fine” in the sense that they could get through the month safely without risk of death and just be weaker. However, if they attempt any form of blood ritual or blood letting, they risk running out of blood, which would indeed be a life threatening concern. The only solution, then, is a blood transfusion of another type. The Blood Ministers are willing to provide blood from their banks, but caution that it is better if a fresh supply is used. Do you have a friend willing to lend a hand? Or, do you miss one of the deadlines this month for fighting back Riteior?

FAQ:

This condition strikes after the mid-month, when the latest batch of rituals further weakens Riteior, and ensures the Moss King's safety.

This condition is not life threatening, unless a person attempts to use blood for a ritual or other purpose without first receiving a transfusion.

If a person attempts to perform a blood ritual before getting a transfusion, their anemia can become life threatening very quickly.

It is possible to completely avoid this prompt by not being targeted by Riteior. His cursed targeting is not that precise and he is clearly becoming desperate.

When a transfusion is given, both participants will be lightly anemic for another 24 hours, but the condition will fade afterwards completely.

It is suspected strongly by some of the Blood Ministers and Arcane Scholars that this is a curse brought about by a brief moment of control over the Moss King by Riteior. This can be learned easily in conversation with members of the orders in Trench.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

HIGH STAKES

WHEN: Second Half of March
WHERE: Goat Turning in The Cellar Door
CONTENT WARNINGS: Gambling, Possible Coersion, lowered inhibitions, Risk of Character Death

The Moss King appears to be 'on the mend' by the latter part of the month, or at least he seems to be his usual self. A flyer advertising a special for all Sleepers and residents of Trench at the Goat Turning, his personal gambling hall, circulates throughout town. The doors of the Goat Turning will be open to absolutely everyone, and nobody will be turned away for an event that will last the last two weeks of the month! Anyone who comes will be given a complementary set of chips for free, along with a very special commemorative poker chip embossed with their own face on it which they are assured they can keep afterwards, assuming they don't lose it betting! In fact, that commemorative chip is the only way that a person can return to the Goat Turning during this period, and has to be shown to get admittance, though you don't need to bet it even if it appears to be worth quite a lot! Every night, a new allotment of chips is offered to gamblers. It isn't much, and if they're willing to trade a few goods to get more, they can supplement their stash. What could be more fun than a friendly game?

The drinks and food are free for those attending, and even better? They don't seem to have a lot of strange effects. The drinks seem to ease the symptoms of corruption, in fact, and make a person more relaxed and at ease, along with lessening their inhibitions. The food is filling and pleasant, but salty, making one crave the drinks more. But, honestly, compared to Generosity's botched and spoiled food in January it's almost heavenly, even if it does make it easier to want to keep gambling and gambling. After all, those prizes for the big winners of the night are certainly something to behold, and the kinds of luxuries that Trenchies drool over.

The Big Prizes: (Maximum 1 big prize per character for the month)

A Lunar Orb

A Vial of Pthumerian Blood that can leave a person feeling sickly and weak if they come in contact with it

A Genuine Lantern, enabling a second teleportation location to be placed!

A Blood Enchanted Weapon or Armor.

An Item from Home that a character might not normally find washing up on shore

The Lesser Prizes:
Players are encouraged to use their imagination on lesser prizes that could be won. Food. Supplies. Furnishings. Weapons. Tools. Clothing. Any number of valuable could be won throughout the month.

So, what's the catch? There's always a catch. Well, like any gambling hall, the saying goes that the House Always Wins. This isn't true universally. You could have a hot streak at the Craps table, or you might just win on your lucky number in Roulette. It is very possible to walk away with enough chips to win a big prize all in one night, or build up over time to claim such a lofty goal. But the trick is that commemorative chip. It's the admission, and it's also the only way you can leave the gambling den each night. The chip must be presented both at entry and leaving, and only then does the reality become clear. That chip is so valuable because it represents your life! You might literally be betting with your life here! Should you lose your chip and not have it at the end of the night, the impressive and powerful bouncers at the door will bar you from exit, and once the hall closes there is nowhere to go but the basement. Anyone who enters the basement after hours will find that their life is indeed forfeit, and their debt is called. They will die down below. How will they die? Well, considering the fighting pits down below, any of a thousand deaths, some more gruesome than others, are possible. And, if another player holds their chip, they will be given a special pass to remain below, to demand their price themselves.

So, if you lose your chip is it still possible to get it back? Absolutely! It is a gambling hall, after all. Someone just has to be willing to give it back, or to win it back from another player or the house. What could be simpler? Of course, because there are no compulsions in the commemorative chip, and no rules about how it is to be used or transferred other than that it must be won from the house in a fair game, it is almost as if the Moss King is testing his own guests to see just how far they will go, and what they will do if their life or the life of a friend is on the line.

FAQ:

Players are limited to one grand prize per character. Please record this prize on the prompt below.

Characters that die because of this event may die in any reasonable fashion in the basement. Tools are provided. This may be handwaved.

Because this event involves the potential of players bargaining for their lives and death, we remind players to be mindful and communicative with others regarding permissions and preferences during this event. Do not break permissions.

Lesser prizes can be won in quantity, but we ask that you be reasonable about this.

The Commemorative Chip is non-magical and there is no compulsion to gamble with it. It is simply worth a lot more.

The Event is not age restricted, so underage gambling is possible.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He rolls his eyes a little bit at the question. "Machinists are a new discipline in my world. At least around where I'm from. But while the cartridges contain gunpowder like the ones here, you can set them off or move them around with aether. ... Plus I've made a number of attachments and enhancements to it."

Nara'a could go on, but his attention is drawn back to the cards. He does his best to hide his distaste at his hand, but he does his best to keep his face stoic and still.

"... Sometimes the straightforward solution is the best. Why spend so much aether on a complicated spell when you could just shoot someone?"

Oy, it's not his fault Nara'a never let on he was a gunslinger. Though maybe he should've guessed the guy had some experience since he had some familiarity and advice when Dabi found those old pirate pistols underwater. "Move them around? Ya mean like floatin and shootin from stealthy spots?" Because that's both useful and pretty cool.

Dabi glances up at Nara'a's ears when the next hand is dealt. Might be a little cheating since he's got one of the man's tells wrapped around his leg, but whatever. He's someone the miqo'te knows, so he can have an advantage. Besides, might be tempted to fold when it seems like the guy's ready to win. "Heh, no kiddin. Got a few people with that mindset back home."

Not a lot, but it happens.

"Yes, pretty much. I can also shoot from nearly any angle I please. ... Plus I have a few additional tricks that I can do. You'll just have to find out~." He grins at the other and lets his tail thump in amusement. He's trying to keep himself still for the cards, but he can respond like this for other things, surely.

His ears twitch as the cards are dealt, but it's a little difficult to tell if that's pleased or displeased. His face is mostly still as well. The only hint is his tail sweeping in an annoyed arc, though whether Dabi picks up on that or not is up to him. He puts a few chips in, if only to make the pot bigger.

"There's a few with that mindset as well. With one notable incident in particular..." Fuck you, Emet-Selch. For various reasons.

Dabi arches a brow at the grin and the little thump thump of that tail. Oh someone's gonna be cheeky, huh. "If we get another carnival in town, remind me to take ya to the shootin gallery." Mooch off some talent and get something interesting from the prizes. Hey, if Nara'a is being excited over something else, no one's gonna think he's so over his cards.

Being a bit of a cat person himself, despite his Omen being a wolf, yeah, Dabi does pick up on the motion of the man's tail about his leg. That sweeping back and forth of irritation. Glancing at Nara'a tells him the man's face is stoic, ears managing not to fold or swivel in disappointment. Good on him. Tail's the biggest giveaway.

"Another one of those one world affects the other incidents? Or this have to do with your party?" He has a general gist of Nara'a's world and adventures, but hasn't committed details to memory.

And he adds to the pot.

"Only if I get to do flips while shooting." Yes, he's that kind of gunslinger. What's the point in using a weapon like that if you don't look good doing it? Or add extra challenge to it, because anyone can point and shoot.

He doesn't fold, waiting a bit for more cards to be dealt. He's no poker master, but he's gotten the gist of it - and best to keep his opponents guessing. He chews on his lip with one of his fangs for a moment before answering.

"Well, a temporary ally of ours shot another ally of ours. And the former was a sorcerer of great magical power who could create illusions of cities on a whim. ... And he chose to use a gun instead." Effective, if brutal.

"If they don't make ya aim suck, go for it." Dabi isn't going to hold him off from being a showy shot. He hadn't pegged Nara'a as being someone who likes doing that kind of thing, but then again, some people get different when they hold guns or weapons.

Dabi takes another card when dealt. Hey, not bad. He's building up a good hand here. Judging from the cards that are on the table already, there aren't many combinations that can best his hand. Some matches, but... have to get lucky. Worth holding on.

"Shot by accident or was someone a traitor?" Either alley could be the latter, though it'd be kind of amusing if it was simply a mistake and blam! He hums slightly at the "sorcerer of great magical power" dramatic. "Doesn't mean much if his gun can wipe out a city."

"It doesn't. I also have a robot that I can have punch things." He says it so casually, as if he didn't build a weird magitek device. Unnecessary? Yes. Fun? Also yes.

Nara'a's hand isn't great, but he stubbornly stays in. If he can get the pot a little bigger for Dabi all the better, right? He passes and looks over at Dabi.

"He was a member of a group that has opposed mine for a long time. We knew there was a possibility he would turn, but he was playing nice so we tolerated him for a while. And then he decided to try to push me too hard by shooting and kidnapping a friend." And that was just... too far. His tail flicks angrily and he lets out a sigh. "There's reasons behind it, but... long stories."

"A robot?" Dabi looks up from his cards at at Nara'a with a brief flicker of "yeah right" across his face. "Just how many things are ya pullin outta your ass here?" Magic, clothes, a gun, now a robot? It's almost like new things just keep dropping into his damn arsenal.

Well they're both aiming for the big pot so they can win that larger prize. So it's kind of two versus the rest of the group, with Dabi willing to fold and leave Nara'a the pot if it means he gets the prize and then returns the favor. That's the understanding he thinks they've got at least... If the "who goes first" roles are switched, that's fine too.

"Sounds like an idiot if he's gonna throw away an in with his rivals just to piss ya off." Unless the attack on the friend was the end goal, which it doesn't sound like it was. Still makes the guy out to be a fool for ruining his advantage. "Didja kill him?"

"Oh, just you wait. I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve." What's the fun in telling Dabi all of his secrets when he could surprise the other man and watch the expression on his face?

As the turns come around again he does fold, propping an elbow up on the table to cradle his head while he talks to Dabi.

"I did, eventually. It took a bit of doing -" and some summoning of alternate selves that he still doesn't quite fully understand, plus someone sacrificing themselves - "but I did eventually manage to get a blade of light formed to cut through him. It's the only way to permanently kill his kind."

"Ya never fail to show me somethin different each time I meet ya." From spells to abilities to knowledge, there's always a new thing showing up whenever Nara'a's on the scene. Not that Dabi's that expressive.

He picks up the next card and ups his bet, settling and elbow on the table with his normally blase look, jaw propped on his curled fist and cards dangling folded in his other hand.

"Good for you. Some people ain't smart enough to live." He has little care for people who blow their advantage. Not worthwhile. Speaking of new things, now there's a blade of light to consider. "Still got it with you or is that something ya lost on the way over here?"

"I am a man of many talents." He says it with a straight face, but there's the hint of a smirk at the end. He hasn't even gotten to talking about his jumping abilities, or his ability to summon. Still he's happy with what he's been able to get in Trench.

He snorts at the assessment. That man was definitely smart enough to live, and he sure did - for a long time. But the full story's not one for a poker table, it's more of one for drinks. "No, I don't. Those sorts of things are inherently unstable creations due to -" No. No technical terms.

"Basically the amount of power you have to use doesn't like to hold its shape for very long."

"Kinda wonder if those talents came from ya trainin with them or cause ya stumbled on some magical items along the way." While Quirks are extremely varied in his world, it's still mostly one Quirk per person, one power they lived with and became known for. Nara'a seems to have a huge variety all to himself.

Dabi didn't expect to hear one of Nara'a's long tales about his life at the poker table. Even if it would've been amusing since he knows how interesting they can be and it would've been a nice distraction to their poker partners. "Ya got power with shapes?" The man quirks a brow and glances to the side. That sounds stranger than just having some random magical item or spell.

"... Both." He'll admit that yes, the memories stored inside of the crystals helps - but he also worked hard for his power. He didn't master everything overnight, after all. "And listening to others who helped to train me also was a large factor."

No one stands alone, after all.

"Not - it's like forging a weapon, just with energy. Just blasting doesn't do any good. It has to be solid in some way to actually cut someone. But it's not a trick I can do easily or even really on my own."

"Someone trained ya?" Dabi seems to pique at that, though mostly with the barest twitch in his shoulder and the slight wire pull in his voice. Whether it's a positive interest or negative is hard to tell, but there's something there. Enough that the man's eye is slid to the side, lingering on Nara'a. "How'd that go?"

It's up for the miqo'te to guess what such an open-ended question is looking for.

He frowns with the explanation. Right, not something so easily replicated. "Take it that means ya need people from your world to do it? Can't be just anyone from this place." Crossing worlds, a new reality, substitutions proposed but not always accepted.

"... Varying results. Some of my trainers were very helpful. Some of them... less so, but enthusiastic. They all had things to share." He glances away, hearing a huff of laughter in the back of his mind, before looking back at Dabi. "It helps to have someone who can assist you with the fundamentals."

Huh. Could it? He's not sure. "If they can add their aether to it, yes. A focus helps with that sort of thing, but... it's theoretically possible. Not necessary, but possible."

Dabi remains silent for a bit, expression never changing as he eyes the other man. Before finally returning to his cards. "Yeah, it does." The fundamentals are important. People can't learn the fundamentals on their own. Unless someone teaches them, they're likely going to hurt themselves or fail whenever they try to do it alone.

"But s aether only a thing in your world?" The word and idea exists in Dabi's world, but it's a fictional thing, substance, that isn't manipulated or reached outside of a potential Quirk that could make use of it.

That silence says a lot. Did Dabi have someone teach him fundamentals, too? What happened to them? Not questions he's willing to voice here and now, in front of the gods and everyone, but questions to consider nonetheless. Slowly and surely the mystery of Dabi is... not being revealed, but he's getting more pieces.

"Well." Heh. "That's the funny thing, isn't it? ... My magicks still work here. I can still draw on the same sort of energy. But no one else seems to call it that or know about it. So does it exist here? Or am I drawing on something else? I'm not sure."

Dabi is a meticulous and controlled person. There's little he gives away unintentionally. If he was silent for a while after those words, it was likely on purpose, a permitted glimpse into something a bit deeper than the normal charred surface he presents as impassive and aloof. Perhaps that means he trusts Nara'a... somewhat.

"Probably drawin on somethin else if no one else can reach ya aether. Maybe shit rewires when it comes here." He gestures to his arm, though likely indicates the blood inside. "This is connected to those bastards floatin around up there. Nothin says other stuff can't happen the same way." That's his guess at least.

Nara'a is more of an open book than he'd like, at least outside of combat and tense situations. Still, there's always room to learn more. He doesn't know as much about Dabi as he'd hope to know, but... well, he'll take what he can get.

"Possibly. Though Coldblood has a connection to some of the relevant elements, it's not all of them. But maybe it's connected to one of them. I might... have to do some asking around to know for sure. But that's a researcher's life, heh. Never finished and never satisfied with the answers."

Dabi prefers to keep it that way. The less people know about him, the better, though some people have managed to pry apart the charred surface and get a peek inside. Others who already know the truth are mostly no longer here. Takes care of that issue.

"Least that means ya won't get bored." Always looking for answers, but never completely finished with the journey. He knows that kind of lifestyle. People who seek to become stronger and yet no matter how strong they become, it's never enough. Eternal ambition. "If ya find out, lemme know. I'm curious."

He knows Dabi's not telling him everything. There's a reason he went to Deku for some answers... but he's not going to tell Dabi that. And he really does need to talk to the young boy again... if only to get a little more information.

"That's true. And I will. Who knows? Maybe that's how your powers work here, too. We did come out as squids after all. Who knows what they've done to us?"

Dabi never tells anyone everything. They're lucky if he even tells them something. But it's probably a good idea Nara'a not tell the man he went to one of Dabi's worldmates for questions and answers. That would rankle the villain and probably make what Deku was worried about actually happen. But by the same token, Dabi's not stupid enough to think the option could never happen. After all, his own brother's here...

"Heh, Quirks don't come from some magical realm or draw energies off some creature floatin around somewhere. They're biological." Granted some Quirks actually do store up energy or require things to fuel them, but they're a bit more grounded in science and biology than magic or mystic.

As usually, completely ignores squid talk. Nope nope nope.

"As far as I'm concerned, aether is biological. So who knows? I suppose the pthumerians might, but they're not very forthcoming with answers."

He's not sure whether to trust them or not, but he's definitely got his eye on them.

"... You wanna keep staying at this table or play a different game?" They've kind of taken over the talk at the table - the others are just glancing at them a bit nervously.

"Gave up on gettin any answers from those bastards a long time ago." Dabi isn't on good terms with his patron at all, considering their very-much-clashing ideologies. There's only one thing he has in common with the pthumerian.

Dabi doesn't trust anyone as a practice. They're no exceptions.

"Didja win ya thing yet?" He glances towards the table with a tilt of his head. That's why they were here, to win the item Nara'a wanted. Of course they could head to another table to build up more reserves...

Nara'a isn't on particularly good terms with his own either, but that's partly because Cloverfield is... odd and hard to get in touch with even if he wanted to.

The two of them are both wanderers, and he can respect that. He's not sure what he'd even ask the pthumerian if he even could.

"No, but I've lost the last few hands." He can't help but sound a bit sour, and he hunches his shoulders. "Maybe this just isn't my game." He longs for a Triple Triad table... he'd know what to do if he had his deck!

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